“Mynewfavoriteweek’ly Inspiration” is “A Dose of Grace.”

“I hope so much that stopping by my little space on the world wide interweb will feel like a small dose of grace.” ~ Heather

I am back! And while of course I am bursting to share with you all about our little hiatus and all the joy and grace we have experienced in our lives in the past week, I also really have been so excited to share today’s special guest with you, and so I made my choice that she is my path back to the bloggy space.

It’s not accident that I chose a quote from her own interview as the lead quote for this post. It jumped out at me and took up residence in the intersection of my heart where inspiration meets real life and then turns into peace. Heather in so many ways is the definition of grace herself. I first found her because I was so drawn to her blog title, “Extraordinary Ordinary.” I mean, isn’t that what all these moments we call life are, perfectly extraordinary even when they seem most ordinary?

As you all know this concept is at my core. My moments with my minis, the focus on E’s progress as she and we make our way through her special needs in moments of extraordinary ordinary, moments with family, friends, the fact that we have soft sheets, a roof and food to eat. The fact that each morning our lungs fill with air as we rise to greet the day in this beautiful experience called life.

To me, Heather embodies her blog title. She is a mom that has 3 minis, she is a beautiful writer, she is in recovery, she is a wife, she is smart, articulate and positive.She used to be a social worker, she is beautiful inside and out! She shares her own journey with such courage and grace which really makes her ANYTHING BUT ordinary.

Today, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Heather from “Extraordinary Ordinary.”

Meet the extraordinary Heather!

1. Shannon: Why and when did you start blogging?

Heather:I started blogging in 2007 out of nothing but curiosity. I really didn’t even understand what it was. I liked the idea of it and started out like most moms do, desperately trying to hold on to the memories of mothering in this new-fangled journalistic way.

2. Shannon: Where would we find you now on your blogging journey from where you started?

Heather:I started with a post that simply said that we went to an orchard. I added a couple of unedited pictures, taken too far away to be appreciated by anyone other than myself. So I suppose in some ways, I’ve come a long way because now I share my entire story and my thoughts in a more open way. At the same time, perhaps my unpolished ways back then were a bit refreshing, with all of their not trying. It’s not that I strive to impress now, I guess my blog has simply changed with the whole of blogging, the way it’s more and more of an art. My pictures are prettier and often edited. My stories are hopefully more well-written than at the beginning because I learned I love to write and edit and write some more, from my heart, and I don’t mind at all that my words and stories are witnessed. It adds to the experience, to be heard.

3. Shannon:You have come along way in your journey, and made serious decisions for yourself and your family. How have you persevered through all that has been thrown your way?

Heather: We have persevered through each other, through surrender and acceptance and through our faith and family support. We are constantly failing at persevering, that’s the truth. But we simply get up and try again because settling for less hurts too much.

4. Shannon: Who or what do you find inspiring?

Heather: I am inspired by all manners of art. Writing, crafting, painting, singing, poetry…you name it. I’m inspired by other bloggers often. I’ve continued to be astounded by the rich content on the Internet over the last four and a half years of reading blogs. And then I’m also inspired daily by whatever is around me. We just have to look, and we all can see the many layers of light and beauty around us, even in the most mundane things.

5. Shannon: If you had one whole day to yourself, where your minis were perfectly well taken care of, what would you do?

Heather: Oh my…a whole day…I would get a massage and a haircut and color since I so rarely get around to such things. Then I’d have lunch with a dear friend. Then I’d probably sit and read and write and then go to a movie. I love movies, too. They’re another form of art.

6. Shannon: What is one thing about you people might be surprised to know/learn about you (Funny or serious)?

Heather: When people who have come to know me through my words also come to know me in person, they often say I’m different than they imagined. I’ve heard words like “animated” and “crazy” and “quirky”. So let’s face it, I’m weird. I laugh a lot and I’m just not as serious as I am on my blog, where I pour out my heart-gut. That’s not to say that I don’t love a serious conversation though, because oh how I do!

7. Shannon: Did you make any New Year Resolutions and have you followed through so far?

Heather: True confession: I have never made a New Year’s Resolution in my life. This is basically because I’m quite lazy. (Of course, I did quit drinking…but that took years and it’s a whole other kind of trying.) I have no wise or witty reasons for not having Resolutions…I just simply ignore them with the excuse that I can make changes any day of the year.

8. Shannon:What are 3 things you hope people will take away from visiting your blog or reading your stories?

Heather: I hope it helps mothers (and other story-tellers) see themselves in my stories and then feel validated. I hope my words resonate and inspire. I hope so much that stopping by my little space on the world wide interweb will feel like a small dose of grace.

9. Shannon: What pearl(s) of wisdom can you leave us with that you suggest to make each day ‘anewfavoriteday?’

Heather: I don’t know much, but I know that self-deprecation steals the joy from what could be a favorite day. We need to take more of a look at all the good things we do every single day and stop punishing ourselves so much. We stay stuck when we do that. And I don’t know, I guess my favorite days are days filled with connection and art, so I try to look for it and create it and it makes such a big difference when I do.

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About Shannon Pruitt from 'Mynewfavoriteday'

Welcome to 'mynewfavoriteday. This space is about gratitude and connecting through being open, vulnerable and real. I hope you will enjoy my take on motivation, inspiration and advocacy and will take the opportunity to tell me of your own thoughts and stories.
Why I started 'mynewfavoriteday.'
I am a childhood surviving, divorced, now happily married, IVF (and now natural pregnancy) success story, working mother of 2 amazing babies who were born 12 weeks premature. As life often seems to surprise you when you least expect it, we added another sweet baby girl M to our family in July of 2013. While our angel minis, Q and E are now 7 years old, our son, Q, has thrived while our daughter, E, has had a much more difficult journey. She is considered special needs and in September of 2012 was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome. And so, as she has grown, so do we as individuals and as family. How to help her, how to celebrate our differences while allowing ourselves to cope with the challenges that we never knew to expect. Thus, while much of this blog is based on our experiences (good and not-so-good), it is also based on how we must not let ourselves become victims of our circumstances but rather advocate in our own lives.
A little bit about me and who I am.
In my professional life I am a marketer in the Entertainment Industry; however, ‘mynewfavoriteday,’ was not born of entertainment or marketing but rather as a pathway to help myself and others as we try to define who we are as parents, family members, spouses, friends, colleagues and people. I believe in never judging a book by its cover. Every cover is different, and no matter what your cover looks like, you never know how someone's book is written. Like mine. From the outside, you might never know what truly makes me who I am or what I believe. This blog explores the pages on the inside of my book. My vulnerabilities, fears, happiness, and all my triggers through the lens of being grateful for all the amazing blessings I know I have received but sometimes forget in the challenges of daily life.
Thanks again for dropping by. I hope you will come back, subscribe, comment, share, and/or just hang out and be inspired or motivated to make each day for yourself or someone else 'anewfavoriteday.' By being here, you have certainly helped to make it mine.
xo,
Shannon

10 Comments on ““Mynewfavoriteweek’ly Inspiration” is “A Dose of Grace.””

It’s nice to meet you, Heather. I enjoyed your answer to question 9. I have been trying to appreciate the little things more and more – like when I accidentally spill cake batter on the edge of an open drawer, instead of inside the drawer and all over its contents (I call that a win)! You’re so right: “We need to take more of a look at all the good things we do every single day and stop punishing ourselves so much.”

Nice to meet you, Heather! I love the concept of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary-as it’s true that it’s there in all kinds of cracks and crevices. What a lovely interview, and as a friend who’s been sober for 13 years, I think I’ll just have to check out your blog site! Yay! XOXO-SWM Welcome back, Shannon! 🙂

About Me

My name is Shannon Pruitt and I am so grateful you have joined me here at 'mynewfavoriteday.' It is my hope that as you spend time on this blog, you will take the following reminders with you that will make you want to come back, subscribe, comment, and share 'mynewfavoriteday.' 1) Be "present" and recognize moments in your life so that moments don't pass you by and you can truly appreciate all you have in each day. 2) Count your blessings. Be grateful for family, friends, pets, things, a roof over your head, food to eat, your ability to laugh, or walk, or hear, or see. Reminding yourself of these things can be the first step in making each day 'yournewfavoriteday.' 3) Know you are not alone. While our experiences may be different the emotions that we experience whenever we struggle or are challenged are the same for they are the core human emotions of sadness, fear, loneliness, and yet we are all searching for the same emotions as well of hope, love, happiness, joy and peace. At 'mynewfavoriteday' you are never alone and you never know what you might find from my posts or other's comments that just might help you find a little more of those core emotions we all look for. 4) Use your voice. Remember you are your own best advocate and by using your voice you may inspire others or be inspired, so go ahead and speak up. 5) Be grateful. For each breath, for the opportunity to live. Be motivated and inspired that you have the chance to just be.

I hope today and everyday is 'yournewfavoriteday' and I thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts, stories and inspiring words with me as it helps me beyond words. Sincerely, Shannon